Refining process for iron and steel by means of ferrochromium alloy.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSE]? B'U'CHEL, OIE WENGERN-RUHR, GERMANY,

REFINING PROCESS FOR IRON AND STEEL BY MEANS FERROCHROMIUM ALLOY.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, J osnr Brier-Inn, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at VVengern-Ruhr, Westphalia, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Refining Process for Iron and Steel by Means of Ferrochromium Alloy.

This invention relates to a refining process for iron and steel by means of ferrochromi-um. p

The objection to the use of pure chromium in themanufacture of chromium-steel is due to the fact that it is very diflicult to effect uniform distribution of the chromium in the steel bath by reason of the viscosity of molten chromium. In using ordinary or commercial ferro-chromium for the aforesaid purpose, carbids are formed in the steel which are admittedly objectionable and manufacturers have sought by various means to eliminate the same.

From extensive experiments which I have carried out in alloying chromium with steel or iron, I find that it is highly advantageous to use ferro-chromium which is free from carbids and oxids.

It has already been proposed to use ferrochromium which is free from carbon, or practically so, in the manufacture of steel, and the present invention consists in the use of such ferro-chromium which is also free from oxids.

Ferro-chromium free from oxid and carbid has a much lower melting point than ferro-chromium produced by the ordinar electro-metallurgical process.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 27, 1912. Serial No. 693,748.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

. For the purpose of replacing the carbon contained in ordlnary ferro-chromium silicon or aluminium or calcium or barium, or

an alloy of iron chromium and aluminium has been used, but in order to avoid the formation of oxids I use these metals, or their alloys, which remain in combination with the ferro-chromium and steel.

To this end my refining process consists in the treatment of molten chromium alloys, which comprises protecting the chromium from oxidation upon further alloying and reducing oxicl of chromium therein by adding, in producing the chromium alloys, a reagent in the form of the aforesaid reducing metal, or metals, or their alloys.

By the incorporation of ferro-chromium free from oxid and carbid in the metal bath a highly important condition, is attained, for the expeditious and uniform distribution of the chromium.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis A process for securing expeditious and uniform distribution of the chromium introduced as ferro-chromium into the bath of the metal being refined consisting in adding to the bath carbon free ferro-chromium containing a metallic reducing agent.

I J ()SEF BUGHEL. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

HELEN Nurse, ALBERT NUFER. 

